2015 Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE Concept

Volkswagen has unveiled the Cross Coupé GTE a new 5-seater midsize SUV concept car at the 2015 Auto Show in Detroit. It’s a plug-in hybrid with all-wheel drive, and previews Volkswagen’s new US design language.

The Cross Coupé GTE measures 4,847 mm long, 1,736 mm high and 2,030 mm wide. Commenting on its appearance, Klaus Bischoff, chief designer at Volkswagen said: ‘The concept car has a commanding presence; it is powerful with a look that could almost be described as aggressive. Numerous details hint at how we envisage a future production SUV model for North America.’

Powering the Volkswagen Cross Coupé GTE is a 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine in combination with two electric motors. The six-cylinder direct-injection engine (FSI) delivers 280 PS and maximum torque of 350 Nm, while the two electric motors deliver 40 kW and 220 Nm (front) and 85 kW and 270 Nm (rear). They are powered by a compact lithium-ion battery housed in the centre tunnel, with energy content of 14.1 kWh.

The total output of the drive system is 360 PS, and using this full power, the Cross Coupé GTE, which has a top speed of 130 mph (209 km/h), accelerates to 60 mph in just 6.0 seconds. The Cross Coupé GTE can be driven in five different power modes: E-Mode, Hybrid, GTE, Offroad and Battery Hold / Battery Charge.

In E-Mode, activated at the press of a button, the Cross Coupé GTE can travel in zero-emission mode for up to 20 miles or 32 km, and in this case the 85 kW rear axle electric motor alone drives the vehicle, with the V6 FSI decoupled from the drivetrain by disengaging the clutch and shutting down. But as soon as the six-cylinder engine needs to be restarted due to the battery charge status or other parameters, it engages smoothly in the drivetrain again in a fraction of a second.

The design of the cockpit reflects the car’s hi tech engine and drivetrain nature, featuring horizontal lines and clear digital controls with intuitive operation. The new infotainment system is controlled via a 10.1-inch touchscreen, while a 12.3-inch Active Info Display – similar to that recently previewed on the new Passat – allows extremely high-quality interactive graphic presentation of all details in the digital dashboard.